The Miami basketball team was picked to finish 12th in the ACC and third-year sophomore guard Isaiah Wong was named first-team All-Conference as released on Tuesday. Miami lost five transfers after the 2020-21 season. Three freshmen and two transfers helped fill the void on the Hurricanes roster.
The Miami basketball team received 428 points in the preseason poll. Miami is two points behind Clemson for 11th and 154 ahead of Wake Forest who is picked 13th. The Hurricanes are closer to North Carolina State who is picked ninth in the preseason ACC poll than they are to the Demon Deacons.
Duke is the preseason favorite to win the ACC in the last season under Hall of Fame Coach Mike Krzyzewski. The Blue Devils received 1,132 points and 47 first-place votes. Florida State, North Carolina, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Louisville who are picked to finish second through sixth received the other first-place votes.
Wong led Miami with 17.1 points per game and averaged, 4.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists. The 2021-22 preseason All-ACC first-team included Buddy Boeheim, Syracuse who led with 68 votes, Keve Aluma of Virginia Tech with 52, freshman Paolo Banchero of Duke with 49, Armando Bacot, North Carolina, 46 and Wong with 37.
Add it to the resume, Zay 🙌
— Canes Men’s Basketball (@CanesHoops) October 19, 2021
Isaiah Wong: Preseason First Team All-ACC ✔️
He’s the second-leading returning scorer in the ACC.
More: https://t.co/hkxvFY5Efg pic.twitter.com/7VLPCdW8mK
In addition to being the leading returning scorer, Wong leads the Miami returnees in total rebounds, assists and steals. Wong and sixth-year senior Kameron McGusty entered the 2021 NBA Draft but ultimately decided to return for 2021-22. McGusty averaged 13.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG and 2.8 APG in 2020-21.
Miami added point guard Charlie Moore as a transfer from DePaul and wing Jordan Miller from George Mason. The Hurricanes have a pair of four-star signees in the 2021 class. Wing Jakai Robinson and point guard Bensley Joseph join Miami as freshmen. The Hurricanes also signed three-star point guard Nisine “Wooga” Poplar.
Banchero received 28 votes for ACC Player of the Year and 64 as the ACC Freshman of the Year. Poplar tied for sixth with three other players with one vote for ACC Freshman of the Year. The Miami basketball team will be experienced in 2021-22 with seven players plus Miller and Moore entering at least their third year in college.
If Miami can stay healthy they should have the depth necessary to exceed their selection as the 12th best team in the ACC. Although he did not receive a vote for ACC Player of the Year, Wong can make a run at the award. Wong has scored in double figures in 43 of his last 50 games. McGusty and Wong will lead Miami in 2021-22.